Tulsa’s Mayor Monroe Nichols recently proposed a $100 million private trust as part of a reparations initiative aimed at supporting descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, which resulted in the deaths of as many as 300 Black individuals. This plan, announced at the Greenwood Cultural Center, focuses on offering scholarships and housing assistance rather than direct cash payments to survivors and descendants. Nichols, the city’s first Black mayor, prefers to call this initiative a “road to repair” instead of reparations, suggesting a less politically charged term.
In his address, Nichols emphasized the historical injustices stemming from the massacre and the subsequent long-term effects, such as redlining and economic deprivation that have persisted for over a century. The proposed charitable trust seeks to secure $105 million in total assets, with plans for $60 million to be directed towards revitalizing North Tulsa, an area devastated by the violence.
Nichols’ initiative does not need city council approval, though property transfers will require it. The announcement aligns with his earlier executive order declaring June 1 as Tulsa Race Massacre Observance Day. While the plan reflects a recognition of historical trauma, it faces political headwinds given the national climate surrounding diversity and equity discussions.
Community members, including descendants like Jacqueline Weary, have expressed mixed feelings about the plan, stressing the importance of acknowledging the financial losses their families endured due to the massacre. While Tulsa follows other cities that have initiated reparations discussions, such as Evanston, a lawsuit for direct compensation filed on behalf of the two remaining survivors of the massacre was recently rejected in court.
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